Auxiliary apparatus for gynecological surgery

ABSTRACT

The apparatus comprises a pair of flexible side bands each curved lengthwise and each having one end turned slightly outwardly of the plane of curvature, the opposite end of each band having an elongated slot therein and each band also having an elongated slot at substantially its mid portion. A pair of arcuately curved transverse members interconnect the two side bands, by means of pivotal connections engaged in the respective slots. The mid portion of each transverse member is elevated relative to the rest of the member and mounts a clamp for adjustably receiving and clamping the arm portion of a surgical retractor blade having a blade portion at one end. The retractor blade arms may have elongated slots therein or may have an elongated series of apertures therethrough to receive screws or the like of the clamp. Each side band has a respective helical spring extending therealong in the length between the two slots and connected at each end to the side band. Each transverse member has two of such helical springs extending therealong and connected at each end thereto. These springs serve to receive and hold the nippers for tissue fixation and also repair threads. Each transverse member is further formed with a pair of elongated slots, one on each side of the clamping portion, whereby a great deal of flexibility is provided for relative adjustment of the side bands and the transverse members.

United States Patent 1191 Batista AUXILIARY APPARATUS FOR GYNECOLOGICAL SURGERY Gilberto Xando Batista, Rua Catucaba 67, Alto da Boa Vista, Sao Paulo, Brazil 22 Filed: Apr. 18, 1973 211 App]. No; 352,448

[76] Inventor:

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data OTHER PUBLICATIONS The Lancet May 22, 1965, pages 1100-1101, Two

Stretching Devices to Facilitate Suturing of Vein Tissue to Artery.

Primary Examiner-Lucie I'I. Laudenslager Attorney, Agent,.0r Firm-McGlew and Tuttle Dec. 10, 1974 [57] I ABSTRACT The apparatus comprises a pair of flexible side bands each curved lengthwise and each having one end turned slightly outwardly of the plane of curvature, the opposite end of each bandhaving an elongated slot therein and each band also having an elongated slot at substantially its mid portion. A pair of arcuately curved transverse members interconnect the two side bands, by means of pivotal connections engaged in the respective slots. The mid portion of each transverse member is elevated relative to the rest of the member and mounts a clamp for adjustably receiving and clamping the arm portion of a surgical retractor blade having a blade portion at one end. The retractor blade arms may have elongated slots therein or may have an elongated series of apertures therethrough to receive screws or the like of the clamp. Each side band has a respective helical spring extending therealong in the length between the two slots and connected at each end to the side band. Each transverse member has two of such helical springs extending therealong and connected at each end thereto. These springs serve to receive and hold the nippers for tissue fixation and also repair threads. Each transverse member is further formed with a pair of elongated slots, one on each side of the clamping portion, whereby a great deal of flexibility is provided for relative adjustment of the side bands and the transverse members.

7 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures,

PATENTEB BE C1 01974 SHEET 10F 2 FIG.IV

AUXILIARY APPARATUS FOR GYNECOLOGICAL SURGERY FIELD AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention refers to an auxiliary apparatus for gynecological surgery, which has been designed with special care, in order to offer better working conditions for the surgeon and his assistant, with resulting advantages for the patient.

The apparatus in question is utilized for gynecological operations in the vulvo-vaginal and supra-pubic region, permitting the presentation of surgical periods and offering a complete comfort to the surgeon and his assistants who, in operations without such apparatus, often take uncomfortable and tiring positions.

In fact, the apparatus in question is designed to give a good exposure of the surgical field, affording greater facilities in operative periods of time, through the system of spiral springs, fixing nippers and retractors. It may even dispense with the need for two assistants (right and left), requiring only one assistant for handling instruments.

For an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference is made to the following description of a typical embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the invention apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the assembled apparatus; and

FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D are perspective views of surgical retractors constructed for use with the apparatus of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT According to the invention, the auxiliary apparatus for gynecological surgery, which is the object of this invention, is constituted of a frame formed by two flexible side blades 1, bent lengthwise, with one of the ends thereof being slightly turned outwards, each blade being formed, at its opposite end, with a longitudinal slot 2 and, between its ends, with an intermediate slot 3. Slots 2 and 3 are designed to receive threaded pins 4 arranged to be threadedly engaged by respective nuts.

The transverse members 6 are arcuately curved, and each transverse member is formed with a pair of elongated slots arranged to receive a threaded pin 4. Intermediate its ends, each transverse member 5 is provided with a clamping device, such as a fork 7 having a suitable pin associated therewith for adjustably clamping the arm portion of a surgical retractor blade, such as the blade 8, having a blade portion at one end. By virtue of the slots 2, 3 and 5 and threaded pins 4 with their associated nuts, side bands 1 and transverse members 6 are adjustably pivotally interconnected to each other, it being noted that one transverse member 6 extends between the slotted ends of the side bands 1 and the other transverse member 6 extends between intermediate portions of the side bands 1, whereby the side bands and the transverse members are pivotally and adjustably interconnected to form a frame defining a central field having an adjustable opening.

On the other hand, on side blades 1 and transverse members or rods 6, there are provided helicoidal springs 9, which may have any diameter or length. Each transverse member 6 has two springs 9 mounted thereon and secured thereto at opposite ends of each spring, but each side band 1 has only one spring mounted thereon and secured thereto at its opposite ends. However, the invention apparatus is not limited to having two springs on each transverse member and only one spring on each side band, as any other number of springs may be used on the side bands and on the transverse members. The springs 9 are intended to cooperate with the surgical retractors 10 normally used in surgery (Allis, Kelly, Backaus, Pozzi and others).

Furthermore, in order to be better utilized, the arm portions of retractors 10 are formed with lengthwise slots 11 or a lengthwise series of apertures 12, which extend almost throughout the length of the arm portion.

Thus, the side blades or bands 1 are adjusted and spaced at the upper part of the vaginal region and at the lower part under the gluteus muscles. The surgical retractors 10 are mounted in the clamping devices 7, and the vaginal valves and vaginal vesicals may be secured to these clamping device or may be connected to the springs 9.

The substantial advantage of the apparatus in question is that the nippers for tissue fixation and the repair threads are caught up between the spirals of the springs While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

I claim:

1. An auxiliary apparatus for gynecological surgery comprising, in combination, a pair of flexible side bands each curved lengthwise thereof in a plane of curvature extending centrally therealong, and each havine one end turned slightly outwardly of the plane of curvature; and a pair of arcuately curved transverse members, having opposite ends adjustably pivotally connected to respective side bands, one transverse member interconnecting the opposite ends of said side bands and the other interconnecting the intermediate portions of said side bands; whereby said side bands and said transverse members form a frame defining a central field having an adjustable opening; each transverse member having a respective clamping means at substantially its midpoint for adjustably receiving and clamping the arm portion of a surgical retractor blade having a blade portion at one end.

2. An auxiliary apparatus for gynecological surgery, as claimed in claim 1, in which the opposite end of each side band is formed with an elongated slot extending therealong; each side band being further formed with an elongated slot extending along the intermediate portion thereof; each transverse member being formed with two longitudinal slots, one extending from adjacent each end thereof; and threaded pins engaged in the slots in said side bands and in said transverse members for adjustably and pivotally interconnecting said side bands and said transverse members.

3. An auxiliary apparatus for gynecological surgery, as claimed in claim 2, in which each clamping means comprises a fork arranged to receive therein the arm portion of a surgical retractor blade; an a respective pin associated with each fork and engageable through an aperture in the arm portion of the retractor blade mounted therein.

4. An auxiliary apparatus for gynecological surgery, as claimed in claim 3, including at least one respective helicoidal spring extending along the outer surface of each side band and secured at its opposite ends to the associated side band; and at least one respective helicoidal spring extending along each transverse member and secured at its ends to the associated transverse member.

5. An auxiliary apparatus for gynecological surgery, as claimed in claim 4, in which each side band has only a single said helicoidal spring extending therealong between the two slots therein; each transverse member having a pair of said helicoidal springs extending therealong, one on either side of the associated clamping means.

6. An auxiliary apparatus for gynecological surgery, as claimed in claim 3, in which the arm portion of each surgical retractor blade is formed with an elongated slot constituting the aperture therein.

7. An auxiliary apparatus for gynecological surgery, as claimed in claim 3, in which the arm portion of each surgical retractor blade is formed with a series of longitudinally spaced apertures extending therealong. 

1. An auxiliary apparatus for gynecological surgery comprising, in combination, a pair of flexible side bands each curved lengthwise thereof in a plane of curvature extending centrally therealong, and each havine one end turned slightly outwardly of the plane of curvature; and a pair of arcuately curved transverse members, having opposite ends adjustably pivotally connected to respective side bands, one transverse member interconnecting the opposite ends of said side bands and the other interconnecting the intermediate portions of said side bands; whereby said side bands and said transverse members form a frame defining a central field having an adjustable opening; each transverse member having a respective clamping means at substantially its midpoint for adjustably receiving and clamping the arm portion of a surgical retractor blade having a blade portion at one end.
 2. An auxiliarY apparatus for gynecological surgery, as claimed in claim 1, in which the opposite end of each side band is formed with an elongated slot extending therealong; each side band being further formed with an elongated slot extending along the intermediate portion thereof; each transverse member being formed with two longitudinal slots, one extending from adjacent each end thereof; and threaded pins engaged in the slots in said side bands and in said transverse members for adjustably and pivotally interconnecting said side bands and said transverse members.
 3. An auxiliary apparatus for gynecological surgery, as claimed in claim 2, in which each clamping means comprises a fork arranged to receive therein the arm portion of a surgical retractor blade; an a respective pin associated with each fork and engageable through an aperture in the arm portion of the retractor blade mounted therein.
 4. An auxiliary apparatus for gynecological surgery, as claimed in claim 3, including at least one respective helicoidal spring extending along the outer surface of each side band and secured at its opposite ends to the associated side band; and at least one respective helicoidal spring extending along each transverse member and secured at its ends to the associated transverse member.
 5. An auxiliary apparatus for gynecological surgery, as claimed in claim 4, in which each side band has only a single said helicoidal spring extending therealong between the two slots therein; each transverse member having a pair of said helicoidal springs extending therealong, one on either side of the associated clamping means.
 6. An auxiliary apparatus for gynecological surgery, as claimed in claim 3, in which the arm portion of each surgical retractor blade is formed with an elongated slot constituting the aperture therein.
 7. An auxiliary apparatus for gynecological surgery, as claimed in claim 3, in which the arm portion of each surgical retractor blade is formed with a series of longitudinally spaced apertures extending therealong. 